Combined trapping and electrocuting apparatus



May 12, 1931. R E 1,805,407

COMBINED TRAPPING AND ELECTROCUTING APPARATUS Filed June 24. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l M na W5 ATTORN 5 for its object to provide,

' {0 resulting in the rodent of thefinvention,

Patented May 12, 1 931 ries.

LEoN'cIo riaeartnnor Mexico, mnxroonssreuon omen-Emma CELSO MARTINEZ,

coMiBInE-n; sme ma-- teammate APPARATUS,

' Applicatioirfiled June 24,

This invention relates to a combined trap ping and electrocuting apparatus designed primarily for the trappingand electrocuting of rodents, more particularlyrats,- and has.

in a'm'anner as here-; inafter set forth, an apparatus ofthe class referred to i for electrocuting, immediately after being trapped, a rodent without the shedding of blood by it, under such conditions approaching and en-' tering the trap,.which would not be the case if the smell of blood were present. 7 r A furtherobjectof'the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

1.5 a combined trapping and electrocuting apparatus for the purpose referred towhich can be quickly assembled and readily cleaned when desired' to removeall odors which would be obnoxious to rodents 20 and, act to prevent them from approaching and entering the apparatus. 7 p

i A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an

apparatus of the class'referred to including 25 a trapping chamber having the bottom thereof provided with electrodes and further pro-f vided with means for supportingthe rodents in spaced relation with respect to the electrodes after the rodent has been deposited in othe trapping chamber and electrocuted.

V Further objects of the invention were provide, in a manner as hereinafter set. forth, a combined 4 trapping and electrocuting apparatus which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, dur able, thoroughly efii of being expeditiouslycleaned when occasion requires, pos

itive in its'action, tively inexpensive to set up, With the foregoing and othe view the invention consists ofthe novel con-s :struction, combination and arrangement of], parts hereinafter more specifically described, and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein'is shown anembodiment 7 but it'is to bis-understood "that changes, variations and modifications" can be resorted to which all within; the scope of the claims hereunto-appended. In the drawings wherein likere and c'ompara-" rerence" [characters] denote corresponding throughout the several v1ews:-

' Figure 5jisa topp disassembled and "trap doors.

1929;, Serial n5; grease. i

; Figure l is "a longitud nal "sectional view of a comb ned trapping and'e'lectoructmg apparatus in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 fi a'frontfelevation thereof with the runfwafy removed.

' F igiire i i isajrmr elevation thereof with the'cov'er plate for the w reconnections re- 1 Figure t is a top plan view of the apparatus with the top thereof removed. I V

lan View of the bottom ofthje apparatus. i

Figure'G front elevation looking to wards the top section of the apparatus.

Figure 73 is a fragmentary view in plan of theitopsection otthe apparatus. Y

Figure Sisa fragmentary view partly in section illustrating the trap doors.

"Figure is aftransyerse sec ional view of the top section ofthe apparatus.

Figure 10. is a perspective view illustrating the form ofreniovable'pivot employed for the r a top section and a'run-way rea body section, V

lly at '1, 2, 3 and 4 respectiveferredto genera sired and thenr'eadily assembled for trapping and electrocuting purposes. The body sectionis of polygonal'contourand is adapted to V ,b'e mounteduponthebottomsection and such ci'entyin its; use, capable arrangeni'entfprovides fa trapping chamber Q The bodyfsectionfi is open at'its topand bot isjofarcuate contour. The run-way 4 can be of any' suitableform but as shownconsis'ts; of a curved strip'6 of anysuitable material and of any suitablewidthand which is adapted to 7, through which extend angle-shaped connecting member-s8 which project forwardly 'liomfthe oflthe front of the: body section parts r I 75 The; apparatusincludes a bottom section, a V

tonijand upon thetop of said body section Qiis i r Sheets in :HlOLU lllfid the top'section 3; The top section 3 2. The strip 6 is formed with transversely extending, spaced step members 9.

The bottom section 1 includes a floor member 10 of non-conducting material, preferably fibrous and which conforms in contour to the shape of the body section 2. Secured to the lower face of member 10 is a pair of narrow, spaced supports 11 therefor, preferably formed from wood. The supports 11 are of a length to have the end portions 12 thereof extend from opposite sides of the member 10. The upper face of each end portion 12 is stepped as at 13 and the side edges of floor member 10 are flush with the upper riser 14 of said end portions 12. The front and rear edges of the floor member 10 are flush with the outer sides of the supports 11.

Secured upon the upper face of the floor member 10 is a pair of oppositely extending sets of spaced electrodes. The electrodes of one set are indicated at 15 and those of the other set at 16. The electrodes 15 are alternately disposed with respect to the electrodes 16, disposed in parallelism with respect therewith hut spaced therefrom. A connector 17 is common to the electrodes 15 and a connector 18 is common to the electrodes 16. The connectors 17, 18 are formed of the same material as the electrodes 15, 16 and as shown the electrodes 15 are integral with the connector 17 and extend rearwardly with respect thereto and the electrodes 16 are integral with the connector 17 and project forwardly with respect thereto.

Secured to the floor member 10 and projecting upwardly therefrom and of a height greater than the height of the electrodes are inverted, yoke-shaped supports 19 acting as a means to support a rodent, after he has been electrocuted in spaced relation with respect to the electrodes. The supports 19 are of equal height and a plurality of supports are arranged between each pair of electrodes. The supports 19 are constructed of wire of the desired gauge.

The body member 2 includes a pair of side walls 20, 21, a front wall 22 and a. rear wall The front and rear walls 22, 23 in proximity to the top thereof are formed with slots which are vertically disposed, and each of such walls has the slots therein arranged in'a pair and with the slots of the, pair spaced from each other. Extending through the slots in the front wall 22 are pivot forming elements 24 and extending through the slots formed in the wall 23 are pivot forming elements 25. The pivot forming elements areof like construction and each consists of a T- shaped body comprising a head 26, a stem 27 and an arm of circular cross section indicated at 28 and which is integral with the head26,

: offset with respect thereto and arranged in parallel spaced relation with respect to the stem 27. See Figure 10.

' posit The slots formed in the wall 22 are indicated at 25) and the slots formed in the wall 23 are indicated at 30. The slots 29 are arranged in alignment with respect to the slots 30.

Positioned within the upper portion of the chamber 5 provided by the body section 2 is a pair of trap doors 31., 32 and each of which is pivotally supported by an element 24 and The element 2i pivotally supports the trap door at its front and the element 25 pivotally supports the trap door at its rear. The trap doors 31, 32 normally close the top of the chamber 5 and when shifted to open such chamber assume the dotted line positions shown in Figure 8. The trap door 31 at its front and rear is provided with sockets 3;}, 34; respectively into the former of which extends the arm of the element 24 and into the latter of which extends the arm 28 of the element 25. The trap door at its'front and rear with sockets 35, 36 respectively, wh ch receii 'e the arms 28 of the elements 24, 25 respectively. The arrangen'ient juststated provides for the'elements 24, 25 pirotally supporting the trap doors 31, 32 within the chamber Each trap door is; provided with a pair of combined stop and counterhalancing members 37, 38 acting to maintain the trap doors in the position shown in Figure 8. The members 37. 38 abut against the stems 27 of the elements 2 1, to maintain the trap doors in normally closed ion, as ii'idicated in full lines in Figure 8. Each of the trap doors is further provided with a pair of arrcster members 39, 40 which contact with the stems 27 of the elements 24, to limit the opening movement of the trap doors and in this connection see the dot-ted line showing in Figure 8. The lower faces of the trap doors are formed with notches -11. to provide clearances for the trap doors when they are swung to the dotted line position shown in Figure 8 and. such notches will receive the top edges of the stems 27.'of the elements 24 and The width of the trap doors 31, 32 is such that when they are in normal position they will be arranged in close proximity to each other, and in this connection see Figure 4.

The elements 24 and 25 are removably mounted in the walls 22, 23 so that the trap v away portion 44 and connected to the parts 42 and 4.3 is a support 15 provided with vertically disposed end pieces 46, 17, the former bemg flush with ta outer face of the wall 22 and lias the members 7 secured thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom. The end piece 47 has hinged to the top thereof as as l8, a balanced, pivoted platform 49 carrying a pair of spaced electrodes 50, 51 on its u'pper face. Depending from the platform 49. and electrically connected with the electrodes50, 51 are contact pieces 52 and carried by the support are vertically-disposed contacts members 58 which are normally" spaced from the contacts 52 and areengaged by the latter when the platform' 4l9 is tilted to the'dotted lineposition as shown'in Figure 1,*whereby the electrodes 50, 51will be connected with asource of energy. 7 The contact members 53 are connected to a pair ofbin'ding posts 5 1,

55. Tothe former is attached a circuit connection 56and to the latter a circuit connec tion 57, and said connections are encased in tube 59 arranged against the inner face of the wall 22jand extended against the inner face ofthe part- 42 of the wall 22- The circuit connections 56,57 are attached to bind-' ing posts 60, 61 respectively carried by a plate 63 secured to the inner face of HILIDSEJD part (3% provided at the lower portion of the wall Extending from the binding posts 60, 61 are circuit connections 65, 66, the former being attachedto one of the electrodes 15 and the latter to one of the electrodes 16.

Carried by the wall 23, at the lower portion thereof is a circuit closer 23 having a pair of binding posts 67, R68. The 1 circuit closer 28 coacts with a pair of spaced contact plates 69,- 70. Leadingifrom the plate 69 to an electrode 15 1s acircuit connection 69 and leading from plate 70 toan electrode 16 is a'circuit connection 70'. The

circuit connections leading from a suitable source of electrical energyto the posts 67, 68 are indicated at 71,72respect-ively. Leading from the posts 67, 68 are circuit connections 72?. respectively and which are encased'in a tube 7 5 arranged against the outer face of the wall The purpose of-the circuit connections 73,7 1 willbe presently referred to.

An operating means for the circuitcloser 23's indicated at 7 1. The circuit closer 28' may be of the spring control edtype.

The top section 8'includesfront and rear arch-shaped members 76, 77 respectively, the

former being attached to the upper end of the wall 22 and the latter to the upper end of thewall 23. Connected to the member 77 1s a closure plate 78, of segmental contour and which seats at its bottom on the top of the wall. 28. The members 76 and 77 are con nected together by electrical conductors 79 formed of suitable wire to form the top and sides of the section 3 of slotted skeleton type.

The top section 3 furtherincludes a pair of vertically disgose'd opposed, spaced plates or partitions 80, 81 of a heightto depend bef low theends of the members 76,71. The parlowere'nds of'the front thereof are coupling members 99 andleading from the members 99' the rodent travels up the run-way and enters titions '80, Slextend into the upper portion 'of the chamber 5 in proximityto the trap doors 31, 32. The partitions 80, 81 extend fremthe member 7 6 and terminate: at apoint a substantial distance from the plate 7 8. The

partitions 80,81 are arrangedupon opposite 1 sides of the-platform49 and depend below the support 45. The partitions 80, 81 are formed of suitable material and are connected tolgetllerby a brace as indicated at 88, and such brace is arranged atthe tops of the partitions. v 1 a The plate '88 is also attached or connected 'to the member 77 as indicated at Set. The par,-

titions 80, 81 provide a passageway leading-3: fromthe front of the apparatus 1n a direction towards bait holder 85 which is secured to the inner face of the plate 78 and positioned substantialdistance from the rear endof the passageway 86 provided by the, partitions c 1 80, 81. Thebait holder 85 has a perforated front asindicated at 87. The bait holder 85 is arrangedabove the rear portions of the trap doors 81, 32. I 7 a Extending from the inner end of each partition 80, 81 and insulated therefrom are,.as

at 80 two sets of electrical conductors which are adapted to be charged and are connected to insulate'd from and extend through the Plate/78. The electrical conductors of onea setare indicated at 88 andthose of the other jset at'89." Thfesets ofconductors 88 are electrically connected together, as indicated at attached to a'support 96. See Figure 3.

A cover 97 is pro'videdifor the rear ends no oil the conductors 88, 89 and such conductors may be termed electrodes;

Connected to the partitions 80 81 near the tothemember "76 are radially disposed braces Inconnection with the manner in which the apparatus operates it will be stated that when 109 into passage 86 he passes upon the platform 49 and as the circuit is open the rodent is not attacked by electricity because if the rodent were he would draw backfrom the'apparatus. The rodent when entering the passage 86 travels upon the outer portion of platform 49. As the rodent travels upon the inner portion of platform 49 he will tilt the same whereby the contacts 52, 53 willcooperate to close the circuitand the rodent will get a shockin his Lac) back feet from the electrodes 50, 51, and which is so effective that the rodent jumps, falling on the trap doors, which open, and the rodent will be precipitated upon the bottom of chamber 5, contacting with the electrodes 15, 16 and will be electrocuted. The rodent will, when falling into the trapping chamber 5, stand on its feet thus being electrocuted and when falling over will rest on the wire grating or supports whereby he will be maintained in spaced relation with respect to the electrodes 15, 16. If the rodent should spring for the bait it will engage and close the circuit whereby the rodent will be shocked as it falls upon the platforms.

It is thought the many advantages of a combined trapping and electrocuting apparatus in accordance with this invention can be readily understood, particularly in view of the fact that the rodents are killed without shedding blood and also maintained in spaced relation with respect to the electrodes on the bottom of the trapping chamber, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which fall within the scope of the in ention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a combined trapping and electrocuting apparatus for rodents a trapping chamber having its bottom provided with oppositely disposed, spaced electrodes, means arranged between said electrodes for maintaining a rodent, after being electrocuted above and in spaced relation with respect to the electrodes, a pair of counterbalanced, oppositely shiftable, pivoted trap doors within said chamber near the top thereof for normally closing it, removable pivot elements for said trap doors, and means to provide a pas sageway above and of less length than said trap doors.

2. In a combined trapping and electrocuting apparatus for rodents a trapping chamber having its bottom provided with oppositely disposed, spaced electrodes normally in an open circuit, a pair of counterbalanced, oppositely shiftable, pivoted trap doors within said chamber for normally closing the upper portion thereof and adapted to be shifted to open position by a rodent on its precipitation to the chamber whereby the rodent will contact said electrodes thereby closing said circuit and electrocuting the rodent, and means arranged between said electrodes for maintaining the rodent after being electrocuted above and in spaced relation with respect to the electrodes.

3. In a combined trapping and electrocuing apparatus for rodents a trapping chamher having its bottom provided with oppositely disposed, spaced electrodes normally in an open circuit, a pair of counterbalanced oppositely shiftable, pivoted trap doors within said chamber for normally closing the upper portion thereof and adapted to be shifted to open position by a rodent on its precipitation to the chamber whereby the rodent will contact said electrodes thereby closing said circuit and electrocuting the rodent, means arranged between said electrodes for maintaining the rodent after being electrocuted above and in spaced relation with respect to the electrodes, and removable pivot elements for said trap door.

4. In a combined trapping and electrocuting apparatus for rodents a trapping chamber having its bottom provided with oppositely disposed, spaced electrodes normally in an open circuit, a pair of counterbalanced, oppositely shiftable, pivoted trap doors within said chamber for normally closing the upper portion thereof and adapted to be shifted to open position by a rodent on its precipitation to the chamber whereby the rodent will, contact said electrodes thereby closing said circuit and electrocuting the rodent, means arranged between said electrodes for maintaining the rodent after being electrocutcd above and in spaced relation with respect to the electrodes, removable pivot elements for said trap doors, means arranged over said trap doors, to provide a passage for the rodent, said passage being of less length than said trap doors whereby the rodent when reaching the inner end of the passage will be precipitated upon the trap doors, and means arranged within said passage and operated by the weight of the rodent for closing the electrical circuit to shock the rodent at his entrance into the passageway.

5. In a combined trapping and electrocuting apparatus for rodents a trapping chamher having its bottom provided with oppositely disposed, spaced electrodes normally in an open circuit, a pair of counterbalaneed, oppositely shiftable, pivoted trap doors with in said chamber for normally closing the upper portion thereof and adapted to be shifted to open position by a rodent on its precipitation to the chamber whereby the rodent will contact said electrodes thereby closing said circuit and electrocuting the rodent, means arranged between said electrodes for maintaining the rodent after being clectrocuted above and in spaced relation with respectto the electrodes, removable pivot elcmei for said trap doors moans arranged over said trap doors to provide a passageway :tor the rodent said passageway being of less length {than said trap doors whereby the rodent when reaching the inner end of the passageway will be precipitated upon the trap door means arranged within said passageway and operated by the weight of the rodent for closing the electrical circuit to shock the rodent at his entrance into the passagewav. and means at the rear of said passageway and including spaced conductors in a normally open circuit adapted to be bridged by the rodent when it springs rearwardly from the passageway therebyiclosingsuch circuit to' shock the rodent as it falls towards the platforms. I

6. In a combined trapping and electrocuting apparatus for rodents a trapping chamher having its bottom provided with oppositely disposed, spaced electrodes normally in an open circuit, a pair of counterbalanced, oppositely shiftable, pivoted trap doors within said chamber for normally closing the up per portion thereof and adapted to be shifted to open position by a rodent on its precipitation to the chamber whereby the rodent will contact said electrodes thereby closing said circuit and electrocuting the rodent, means arranged between said electrodes for maintaming the rodent after being electrocuted above and in spaced relation with respect to the electrodes, removable pivot elements for said trap doors, means arranged over said trap doors to provide a passageway for the rodent, said passageway being of less length than said trap doors whereby the rodent when reaching the inner end of the passageway will be precipitated upon the trap doors, means arranged within said passageway and operated by the weight of the rodent for closing the electrical circuit 'toshock the rodent after his entrance into the passageway, means spaced from the inner end of said passage= way for supporting bait and arranged over one endof said trap doors, and means at the rear of the passageway and contacted by the rodent when it springs toward the bait for shocking it as it falls towards the platforms In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

LEONCIQ LAGARDE. 

